HP govt urges Centre to repatriate 16 IAS officers

Of the 147 state officers, 32 are on central deputation

SHIMLA:DUE to staff crunch, Himachal Pradesh government has asked the Central government again to repatriate as many as 16 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from the central deputation.

Himachal Pradesh government’s department of personnel has drawn a list of 16 IAS officers on the central deputation who have completed more than five years on central deputation. There are two officers who are on central deputation for more than five years and eight IAS officers on central deputation are there for more than four years. “We have made a list of officers and have put it up with government for its consideration,” an official said on anonymity.

Himachal has cadre strength of 147 IAS officer and 32 of them are on different deputations with the central government.

The department of personnel and training (DOPT) has extended tenure of the central deputation to seven years which forced Him- achal government to write to the Centre for sending back its officials.

“There are many officers who have completed more than five years in the central deputation. Government will take a call on them. Opting for the central deputation is part of career planning,” chief secretary BK Aggarwal said.

Himachal Pradesh government had written to the central government in April asking them to send back at least half a dozen officers who were on the central deputation. However, it is learnt that many of the officers were unwilling to return from their assignment midway.

The government had recalled IAS officials of Himachal cadre, including Manoj Kumar who is currently posted as chief vigilance officer with the Delhi development authority; Kondru Sanjay Murthy posted as joint secretary with information and broadcasting ministry; Kamlesh Kumar Pant posted as chief vigilance officer with the National Highway Authority of India; Rajneesh posted as joint secretary commerce and industrie; Subhasheesh Panda posted as director with food and public dis- tribution department and Amitabh Awasthi posted as deputy director (administration) PGIMER, Chandigarh. Of the total six, only Manoj Kumar returned as additional chief secretary (home).

However, it has been learnt that majority of officers on the central deputation are not willing to return back from their assignment midway.

In Himachal Pradesh secretariat, many senior bureaucrats are holding more than two departments.

The state government has been feeling bureaucratic crunch since long. Previous state government led by Virbhadra Singh had also written to the Centre and sent letters for deputing IAS officers in cadre post in state.

But the move did not fall through. The previous government had also asked the central government to enhance number of IAS officers from the 147 to 155.

The department of personnel and training is yet to approve request to enhance the state’s cadre strength from 147 to 155.